How to Deodorise Carpet: Real Methods for Real Results!

To be a responsible carpet owner, proper care and maintenance is a must. Without taking these necessary measures, your carpets aren’t going to look good for long, and they certainly aren’t going to smell very pleasant either! In fact, musty or bad carpet odour is not uncommon because carpet fibres are known to absorb smells, both good and bad. For example, a lingering smoke odour in your home can easily get absorbed by a carpet and leave it smelling smokey until measures are taken to get rid of it. This is one of the many reasons why it is important to keep the air in your home clean and fresh!

Nevertheless, if you’re in search of some of the best ways to deodorise your carpets for real, long-term results, you’ve come to the right place! Today, MaidForYou is sharing tried and tested methods to freshen up carpets, and tips to keep bad smells at bay and get the good smells to stay! Read on.

3 Ways to Deodorise Carpets Quickly

There are quite a few methods to try out when attempting to freshen up a carpet which is why many carpet owners find it puzzling to choose one. Well, we’ve narrowed these options down to the three most effective ways to deodorise carpeting for best results! Take a look below.

Deodorise Carpets with Vinegar

While vinegar has a rather strong smell by itself (and not a very pleasant one to many people), it is not used to mask bad carpet odour, nor will the smell linger because, once dry, vinegar becomes odourless. If you’re wondering how this will help you get rid of the bad carpet smell you are dealing with, well, vinegar aids in neutralising odours by way of absorption. For this reason, among others, white vinegar is a staple household ingredient that is often used for cleaning purposes. 

To freshen up your carpet with vinegar, mix 2 parts of the ingredient with 1 part water, and fill it into a spray bottle. Turn the nozzle to the mist setting, and spray the carpet as evenly as possibly to slightly dampen the carpet fibres. Leave the carpet to air-dry completely and check for any lingering bad odours. If needed, re-spray the carpet and allow it to dry overnight. 

TIP: If a vinegar smell persists once dry, add a few drops of essential oil to a spray bottle filled with plain water; then lightly mist-spray the carpet. Avoid walking over the carpet while damp as this will cause dirt to cling to the fibres and may result in staining.

Deodorise Carpets with Baking Soda

Perhaps the most common and beloved carpet deodoriser used in homes everywhere, baking soda is known for its cleansing, whitening, and deodorising abilities. However, it’s surprising to see that many homeowners misuse the product when trying to freshen up their carpets. Yes, baking soda can be used by itself on carpeting but, if you want real results, it needs support from another essential household cleaning product - borax! Together, they do an excellent job at deodorising carpets.

For this, simply combine equal parts baking soda and borax in a bowl; stir the two ingredients together so that the mixture is ready to be sprinkled over the carpet. To do this evenly, a baking sieve can be very useful. You can be as generous as you like but don’t go overboard! Once the baking soda-borax has been applied, it helps to use a soft brush or appropriate carpet brush to work the powder into the carpet. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight to absorb odours before vacuuming the carpet thoroughly. 

TIP: The combination of baking soda and borax is effective in removing lingering pet pee odour from carpet. For best results, repeat the process 2-3 times.

Deodorise Carpets with Vodka

This method is more effective when used as a follow-up treatment after spot cleaning a carpet. For example, if you’ve just spot cleaned your carpet to treat a stain which has left a persistent odour, vodka can be used to neutralise the smell. Any cheap brand of vodka will suffice which makes it a rather affordable option. Moreover, unflavoured vodka is often used to remove carpet stains and therefore, is useful and effective for solving two problems with one product.

Vodka can be used undiluted to deodorise carpets; simply spray the affected area of the carpet to dampen it (avoid saturating the carpet), and allow it to sit for a good 30 minutes. Thereafter, blot the carpet with paper towels to soak up as much moisture as possible. Leave the carpet to air-dry and repeat the process if necessary.

Tips to Keep Carpets Fresh for Longer

While it’s not impossible or difficult to get rid of unpleasant carpet odour, you can save yourself the trouble of applying deodorising methods every now and then by simply taking measures to keep your carpets fresh for longer periods of time.

Here are a few simple tips to prevent bad carpet odour and to keep your carpets vibrant and fresh:

• Increase ventilation in your home
• Use exhaust fans to pull out stale air, smoke, or other smells that may get absorbed by your carpet
• Invest in a dehumidifier to eliminate moisture in the air which encourages mould, mildew, and bacteria in carpets
• Vacuum your carpet 3-4 times a week if daily cleaning is not possible
• Treat stains immediately to prevent unpleasant smells from getting absorbed by carpet fibres
• Clean your flooring daily to avoid tracking dirt, debris, and bacteria onto your carpets
• Deep clean your carpet at least once a month; use a product that cleans and deodorises for long-lasting results
• If you have pets, bathe them regularly (this is necessary for their own hygienic well-being)
• Get your carpets cleaned professionally once a year or every six months depending on the condition

Don’t be swayed by complicated methods or overwhelmed by the sheer number of them when in reality, it is fairly simple to deodorise your carpet! To make it even simpler, you can try any of the three methods we have shared with you today, and rest assured that the results will be real! Don’t forget to also practice keeping your carpets fresh for longer with the useful and effective tips above!